General correspondence of Frances Seymour, Marchioness of Hertford, Duchess of Somerset;...

General correspondence of Frances Seymour, Marchioness of Hertford, Duchess of Somerset; 1645-1674, with undated letters at the end. The letters are chiefly on business and domestic matters, a large number being from Richard Beardesley, Bailiff of Drayton Basset, and George Crowther, Thomas Gape, and Amos Walrond, agents. The names of all the writers are given in the index. Included are:-

1. George Pryme, on the progress of the negotiations between the King and the Parliament at Uxbridge, enclosing "copies of the Buckinghamshire peticion and the proposicions made on his majesties behalfe touching Episcopacie" (see ff. 355, 356); Uxbridge, 18 Feb., 1644[5]. f.1.

2. F. Richard, tutor to Lord Beauchamp, on his pupil's studies, return to England, etc.; Blois, 24 June, 8 July, 1646. ff. 2, 6.

3. Zacheus Isham, sending "a book of the articles for surrender of Oxford; it speakes much more happines then I expected"; Essex House, 26 June, 1646. f. 4.

4. Dorothy Baker, on the death of the Earl of Essex, reports of a will suppressed and "suspition of foule play", etc.; Lambeth, 17 Sept., 7 Oct, 1646. ff. 15, 17.

5. Sir Orlando Bridgeman, on legal business, etc.; 19 June, 1647-31 July, 1673. ff. 21, 35, 43, 58, 75, 83, 89, 91, 99, 104, 106, 144, 151, 165, 175, 237, 273, 283.

The letter of 31 July, 1673 (f. 273) gives curious particulars of O. St. John's dealings as to the will of Rob. Devereux, Earl of Essex.

6. Thomas Barlowe, on the voidance of the rectory of Langum by order of the Commissioners for Pluralities; 17 June, 1650. f. 27.

7. Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, Lord Chancellor, giving the Duchess notice of a bill in Chancery against her by Sir Tho. Higgons (who married her brother's widow, Lady Essex); 27 Nov., 1663. f. 135.

8. Poll for an M.P. for Tamworth in place of Amos Walrond deceased Charles, Lord Clifford, being elected; 26 Nov. 1669. f. 224.

9. Thomas Gape, (a) on the meeting of Parliament and a Report to the Commons on the king's debts, "whereupon there was a great silence in the house for about a quarter of an houre", etc.; 28 Oct. 1670. f. 244;- (b) with an account of the funeral of her grandson, William, Duke of Somerset, at Bedwyn; 27 Dec., 1671. f. 262. The latter is printed in "Wilts Archæol. Mag., XV. 1875, p. 206

10. Elizabeth, Lady Capell, on a projected marriage between her daughter and [Henry Seymour, Lord Beauchamp, who married Mary Capell 28 June, 1648]; 12 July [1647?]. f. 286.